Cornering Consciousness

Moto-camping forces perspective, not so much as the optical illusion, but rather a consideration of what's important to bring along with you and still keep camping and refuge apart from each other. We got pretty good at it before we got into real size camping using the Montero, but we've since been spoiled by it. Such was the struggle in packing the Blackbird for an overnighter to Boulder Mountain in Highway 12. Seen here moments before departing is the result of forced perspective. Packed therein is a Kelty three-person tent, two Nebo down sleeping bags, two Pedex down inflatable sleeping pads, a JetBoil with fuel, another camp stove plus mess kit to cover two for dining, two meals each for breakfast and dinner,  clothes for another day plus the unmentionables, toiletries and the standard riding fare of a tool and first aid kit. We were set. The Bird has been on the fritz most of the Summer with a burned out stator. With my attention turned to the Montero I didn't ...

In his book, The Mastery of Love , don Miguel Ruiz says that the perfect relationship is like the one you have with your dog and only half that relationship is perfect, the dog's half. Another researcher has likened the excitement that your dog feels when you come home at the end of the day to the rush of cocaine, synapses are firing all over the brain as it floods with dopamine. Such is the capacity with which most dogs live, especially ours. This has never been more apparent to us as when we took our two Golden Retrievers on a week's vacation with us to San Simeon, California. It's important to note that we made certain accommodations for two medium size dogs just transitioning out of puppyhood, the most effective of which was pulling out the center seat of the Montero and installing a platform upon which Ginger and Mary Ann could travel the ten hours to the coast.  This made the trip so much more bearable with a surface that retains dog hair and a space whe...